Event Details

Special Guest Speakers:

Buzz Aldrin

Astronaut, Explorer, Rocket Scientist, American Hero

Mission to Mars: My Vision for Space Exploration

Legendary “space statesman” Buzz Aldrin speaks out as a vital advocate for the continuing quest to push the boundaries of the universe as we know it. As a pioneering astronaut who first set foot on the moon during mankind’s first landing of Apollo 11–and as an aerospace engineer who designed an orbital rendezvous technique critical to future planetary landings–Aldrin has a vision, and in this book he plots out the path he proposes, taking humans to Mars by 2035.

Francis French

Best-Selling Space Author and

Director of Education, San Diego Air & Space Museum

The Race to the Moon

In the 1960s, two superpowers were engaged in a titanic battle to land the first human on the moon. Why did America get there first? And why was the Apollo 11 crew chosen to make the first attempt? In this talk, Francis French will take you through the colorful personalities and risky decisions that led up to the historic moment of the first moon landing.

Book Signing

After the presentations our guests Buzz Aldrin and Francis French will sign their books for the public.

Books for signing can be purchased at the event

(sales will start during the reception):

Mission to Mars: My Vision for Space Exploration - $25

Into that Silent Sea - $20

In the Shadow of the Moon - $20

Cash or Check Only

Buzz Aldrin Biography

Buzz Aldrin was born in Montclair, New Jersey on January 20, 1930. His mother, Marion Moon, was the daughter of an Army Chaplain. His father, Edwin Eugene Aldrin, was a Colonel in the Air Force, a ScD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and an aviation pioneer who later became the Commanding Officer of the Newark Airport in New Jersey. Buzz grew up in New Jersey and after graduating one year early from Montclair High School he was educated at the US Military Academy at West Point, graduating third in his class with a BS in mechanical engineering. He then joined the Air Force where he flew F86 Sabre Jets in 66 combat missions in Korea, shot down two MIG-15's, and was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross. After a tour of duty in Germany flying F100's, he went on to earn his Doctorate of Science in Astronautics at MIT and wrote his thesis on Manned Orbital Rendezvous.

Selected by NASA in 1963 into the third group of astronauts, Aldrin was the first with a doctorate and became known as "Dr. Rendezvous." The docking and rendezvous techniques he devised for spacecraft in Earth and lunar orbit became critical to the success of the Gemini and Apollo programs, and are still used today. He also pioneered underwater training techniques, as a substitute for zero gravity flights, to simulate spacewalking. In 1966 on the Gemini 12 orbital mission, Buzz performed the world's first successful spacewalk, overcoming prior difficulties experienced by Americans and Russians during extra-vehicular activity (EVA), and setting a new EVA record of 5 ½ hours. On July 20, 1969, Buzz and Neil Armstrong made their historic Apollo 11 moonwalk, becoming the first two humans to set foot on another world. They spent 21 hours on the lunar surface and returned with 46 pounds of moon rocks. An estimated 600 million people – at that time, the world's largest television audience in history - witnessed this unprecedented heroic endeavor.

Upon returning from the moon, Buzz was decorated with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest American peacetime award. A 45-day international goodwill tour followed, where he received numerous distinguished awards and medals from 23 other countries. Named after Buzz are Asteroid "6470 Aldrin" and the "Aldrin Crater" on the moon. Buzz and his Apollo 11 crew have four "stars" on each corner of Hollywood and Vine streets on the renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Since retiring from NASA and the Air Force, Col. Aldrin has remained at the forefront of efforts to ensure America's continued leadership in human space exploration. He devised a master plan for missions to Mars known as the "Aldrin Mars Cycler" - a spacecraft system with perpetual cycling orbits between Earth and Mars. Dr. Aldrin has received three US patents for his schematics of a modular space station, Starbooster reusable rockets, and multi-crew modules for space flight. He founded Starcraft Boosters, Inc., a rocket design company, and the ShareSpace Foundation, a nonprofit devoted to advancing space education, exploration and affordable space flight experiences for all. In June of 2011 Buzz started a new company, Buzz Aldrin Enterprises, LLC to promote his brand and oversee all aspects of his public appearances, media, licensing, endorsements and efforts to promote the future of the space program.

On November 16, 2011, Dr. Aldrin was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian honor, along with the other Apollo 11 crew members, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins, and Mercury Seven astronaut, John Glenn, for their significant contribution to society and for blazing the trail of exploration.

Dr. Aldrin is an author of eight books including his New York Times best selling autobiography entitled, “Magnificent Desolation” which was released in 2009 just before the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo XI moon landing. He continues to inspire today's youth with his illustrated children's books: Reaching for the Moon, another New York Times best-seller, and Look to the Stars. He has also authored two space science-fact-fiction novels: The Return and Encounter with Tiber. His non-fiction works include the best-seller historical documentary, Men from Earth, and an early 1970's autobiography, Return to Earth. His newest book, “Mission to Mars: My Vision for Space Exploration” outlines his plan to get us beyond the moon and on to Mars. It will be released by The National Geographic Society on May 7, 2013.As one of the leading space exploration advocates, Buzz continues to chart a course for future space travel.

Francis French Biography

Francis French is originally from Manchester, England, although he now lives and works in Southern California. He has been working for over a decade in the field of science education, particularly in making science and technology accessible and understandable to family audiences in informal learning settings such as museums. This has included positions at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, the San Bernardino County Museum, and the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in San Diego, California, where he also served as the Spaceflight and Astronomy Spokesperson, briefing media on space-related stories. His work has included regular collaborations with NASA, retired astronauts, notable astronomers and astronomical observatories around the world, and a banner he designed was flown on the space shuttle Columbia’s last successful mission. He is the former Director of Events with Sally Ride Science, working for America’s first woman in space, and the current Director of Education at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.

He has been a regular contributor of articles to aerospace magazines since 1996, primarily in the area of manned spaceflight history, and is the co-author of both Into That Silent Sea and In The Shadow of the Moon. His most recent book, 2011’s “Falling to Earth,” is co-authored with Apollo 15 astronaut Al Worden, and made the top 12 of the LA Times Bestseller list. http://francisfrench.net/.

Event Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel, LAX

5985 West Century Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90045

3 Course Meal

Free Parking

Event Program:

5:30 - 6:30 PM Networking Reception with Cash Bar

6:30 - 7:30 PM Dinner

7:30 - 8:00 PM Awards

8:00 - 9:30 PM Presentations and Q&A

9:30 - 10:30 PM Book Signing

STUDENTS ATTENDING THE EVENT WILL RECEIVE A FREE 1-YEAR AIAA STUDENT MEMBERSHIP! ATTENDEES SIGNING UP TO BECOME AIAA PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS (AT WWW.AIAA.ORG) BEFORE THE DINNER AND BRINGING PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP WILL RECEIVE A $35 DISCOUNT ON THE FIRST YEAR OF AIAA MEMBERSHIP. THIS OFFER DOES NOT APPLY TO MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013 from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM (PDT)

Organizer

AIAA Los Angeles-Las Vegas Section

The nonprofit American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the principal society and voice serving the aerospace profession. AIAA’s mission is to address the professional needs and interests of the past, current, and future aerospace workforce and to advance the state of aerospace science, engineering, technology, operations, and policy to benefit our global society.